2010 Year in Review - Phoenix Coyotes

TOP 10 COYOTES STORIES

2010 featured on-ice success and off-ice uncertainty

Loading list...

Ownership yet to be finalized

When will a new owner be in command? After the euphoria of the playoff season began to fade, that key question remained. Things appeared to be dicey until Matthew Hulsizer stepped up. While there may be progress being made behind the scenes, no resolution has been forthcoming. The one thing hockey fans in Arizona want is an owner committed to keeping them in Glendale; Hulsizer appears to be the last hope.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Paul Connors/Associated Press

Fan turnout turnaround?

Attendance has been a sore point for the Coyotes for several seasons. As the wins mounted and the playoffs neared, the fans returned, bolstering the tenet that fans in the desert will support winning hockey. This season started out oddly, with the Coyotes playing their first two games in Prague and then getting a week off. Less than 7,000 fans showed up for two games, and other crowds were small, but a turnaround may be under way.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Off-season roster changes

The Coyotes did not stand pat in the off-season. They lost key players such as defenseman Zbynek Michalek and center Matthew Lombardi, but General Manager Don Maloney again delivered players who could fit into coach Dave Tippett's structured style of play. Acquiring veteran forwards Ray Whitney and Eric Belanger led to added firepower. It did take some time for everyone to jell, but the Coyotes appear to be a top eight team in the West.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Pat Shannahan/The Arizona Republic

Shootout stars

Shootouts helped the Coyotes reach a 107-point season, and the impetus behind that was defenseman Adrian Aucoin, who led the NHL with six shootout-deciding goals, notching the six in nine attempts. It was the first season that Aucoin was involved in shootout, but he quickly discovered he had a knack, and it did not take long for the nickname "Automatic Adrian" to surface.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: John Bazemore/Associated Press

Return of the WhiteOut

The Coyotes advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2002, marking a return for the franchise's WhiteOut playoff tradition. Phoenix face the Detroit Red Wings in a series that went seven games. The final game was on the Coyotes' home ice, but they could not close the deal, losing 6-1. It was a bitter end to the season. Feeling a lot of that frustration was goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who crafted a superb year with a franchise-high 42 wins while getting eight shutouts.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Coach, GM win top awards

The Coyotes finished the season in fourth place in the Western Conference and a franchise-record 107 points. Dave Tippett and Don Maloney would go on to win coach and general manager of the year awards, respectively. The Coyotes reached this point mainly by adhering to a mantra espoused by Tippett when he took over a week before the season: A team without superstars needs a "pack mentality" to be successful.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Jacob Andrzejczak/Getty Images for NHL

'Automatic' Adrian

Veteran defenseman Adrian Aucoin, who had never been involved in a shootout in his career, instantly developed the knack, recording six game-winning goals. He joked throughout his streak that he had no idea why he was consistently beating goalies in one-on-one confrontations, once speculating that he baffled them with his lack of speed.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Buyers at NHL trade deadline

At the trade deadline, General Manager Don Maloney, on a limited budget, strengthened the team. Key acquisitions were forwards Lee Stempniak and Wojtek Wolski, and defenseman Derek Morris returned to the team. Stempniak was brilliant from the start, getting 14 goals and 18 points in the final 14 games. Going into the homestretch, the Coyotes kept up the pressure, and hometown fans took notice as they filled Jobing.com Arena.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Paul Connors/Associated Press

Veteran roster

When Dave Tippett came aboard, he assembled a roster of veterans, with most of the younger players spending most of the season in San Antonio. It came as a surprise to many to see youngsters Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov returned to the minors after spending most of their rookie seasons with the Coyotes. The strategy worked, and the development of those players accelerated due to extended playing time. Turris has spent the current season with the Coyotes, and Boedker and Tikhonov aren't far behind.

Jim Gintonio/The Republic

Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Highs and lows

The Coyotes were the surprise team of the NHL in the 2009-2010 season. And they were the talk of the league for another reason as well: The chance that they might be spending their last season in Arizona. The off-ice uncertainty did have one benefit, as it brought the team together in an "us-against-the-world" mentality. Incidentally, many "experts" picking the Coyotes to finish last in the league began to come around. All of a sudden, the Coyotes bandwagon began filling up on the national front.